Interesting Texture

The Leather fern holds interesting texture. In landscape design, texture refers to how coarse or fine the surface of the plant or hardscape material feels and/or looks. Texture is used to provide variety, interest, and contrast. The plant's foliage, flowers, bark, and overall branching pattern all have texture. Coarse-textured plants attract the eye and tend to hold it because the light and dark contrasts of the shadows provide more interest. Acrostichum daneifolium, Leather fern looks spectacular planted in mass in a large landscape. Its unusual texture and open habit combine to make this a great, eye-catching attraction. In a smaller residential landscape, leather fern can be used as a specimen planted alone to add texture to the garden. Many ferns grow poorly near the coast, however this one is tolerant of all but the most exposed ocean-front lots.

Provide a shaded or partially shaded spot for leather fern for the best growth and to keep plants healthy. Prolonged direct sun, especially in the summer, can burn foliage. Ferns transplant well any time of year as long the soil ball is handled carefully.


This beautiful fern that is native to Florida grows larger than many other ferns, becoming 4 to 8 feet tall. The 3- to 6-foot-long, pinnately divided fronds emerge from the ground to form a beautifully textured, open form. The plant changes very little throughout the year, but provides a continual green mass of beautiful foliage.

The giant leather fern is considered a Florida-Friendly plant. This plant is relatively pest free.

Rainy Day Water Trivia

One inch of rain on one acre of land yeilds 27,154 gallons of water!

This may sound like a lot of water but to put it into perspective, it takes

• 300 milllion gallons of water to produce a single day's supply of US newsprint
• 39,090 gallons to manufacture a new car
• 1,851 gallons to refine a barrel of crude oil
• 62,600 gallons to produce a ton of steel

A great way to conserve water is to capture rainfall.  Cisterns and rain barrels can recycle the rain into your landscape when dryer times are present.  For information on rain barrels including workshop information visit http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/fyn/rain-barrel.shtml

Watch the Weather - Wait to Water Your Yard!

http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/irrigating/watch-weather/

During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards need only about ¾ inch of water every 3 to 5 days. If your lawn has received enough water from rainfall, then you can turn off your irrigation system and operate it manually as needed.

Take full advantage of the rain

• Make sure gutter downspouts are directed into landscaped areas or lawn.
• Install a rain barrel to capture excess rainwater.

 Attend a rain barrel workshop to learn more. To register click here.

Mowing 101

Groundcovers can be an alternative to turfgrass and reduce maintenance in areas that are not heavily foot trafficked.  To find Florida-Friendly Groundcovers for Manatee County click here.

With our summer rains the turfgrass is growing which means you are mowing, if you have turfgrass.  There are some important things to consider before you start making laps with your mower.

1. Mowing height - this will be determined by the variety of your turfgrass.  Turfgrass undergoes physiological stress with each mowing event, particularly if too much leaf tissue is removed. Effects of “scalping,” or removal of too much shoot tissue at one time, can produce long-term damage to the turf. This can leave turf susceptible to other stresses such as insects, disease, drought, and sun scald. Mowing also greatly influences rooting depth, with development of a deeper root system in response to higher mowing heights. Advantages of the deeper root system are greater tolerances to drought, insects, disease, nematodes, temperature stress, poor soil conditions, nutrient deficiencies, and traffic. Mowing below the recommended heights for each species is a primary cause of turf death and should be avoided.
See the table 1 at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh028 to determine appropriate mowing height for your turf.
2. Clippings - On most lawns, grass clippings should be returned to help recycle nutrients to the soil. If the lawn is mowed frequently enough, clippings cause few problems. Although many people believe that clippings contribute to thatch, research has shown that clippings are readily decomposed by microbial action.
3. Mowing Equipment - keep the blade sharpened to prevent a ragged cut.  A ragged cut stresses turfgrass making it more susceptible to insects and disease.
4. Good Practices -

• Pick up all stones, sticks and other debris before mowing to avoid damaging the mower or injuring someone with flying objects.
• Never mow wet turf with a rotary mower because clippings can clog the machine. Mow only when the turf is dry.
• Sharpen the mower blade frequently enough to prevent a ragged appearance to the turf.
• Mow in a different direction every time the lawn is cut. This helps prevent wear patterns, reduces the grain (grass lying over in the same direction), and reduces the possibility of scalping.
• Do not remove clippings. If clumping occurs, distribute these by remowing or by lightly raking. A leaf blower can also be used to distribute clippings.
• Check your mower every time it is used. Follow manufacturer's recommendations for service and adjustments.
• Adjust cutting height by setting the mower on a driveway or sidewalk and using a ruler to measure the distance between the ground and the blade.
• Never fill a hot mower with gasoline.
• Always wear heavy leather shoes when mowing the lawn.
• Wash mower after use to reduce rusting and weed seed movement.

For more information visit http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/yourfloridalawn/ or visit the Master Gardener Plant Clinic at the Manatee County Extension Office.

What's eating your garden?

Touring through the demonstration garden here at the Manatee County Extension office we came across friend and foe.

This dill is almost completely devoured

63 Friends

But look closely because the muncher is the Black Swallowtail caterpillar.  In order to have butterflies we have to support the caterpillars.  Spraying a pesticide to eliminate them would also eliminate their chance to become butterflies.  We soon will be enjoying butterflies. 

 Black Swallowtail Butterfly

As for the dill, we can grow more in another location and transfer any munchers to the plant in the photo above.

We also came upon many of these very attractive grasshoppers

Foe

The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper may often invade residential areas and feast on certain ornamental plants, especially amaryllis and related flowers. Unlike the tolerance we recommend for the caterpillar, the University of Florida's recommendation for the Lubber is "If you cannot control them through mowing, try hand-picking. You can throw them into a bucket of soapy water or a trash bag to kill them."  This is because the occurrence can be large enough to cause serious economic damage to citrus, vegetable crops and landscape ornamental.

Any time you come across a plant or animal stranger in your landscape or garden bring it in for our Master Gardeners to identify.  This is a free service offered through the Manatee County Extension Office, 1303 17th Street West, Palmetto hours are Mon., Tues., Thurs., and Fri. from 9am-4pm.

What is that yellow tree in bloom right now?

The Yellow Poinciana, Peltophorum pterocarpum, is quite showy right now which spurs many to ask about it.  It is not a native tree, however, it is considered Florida-Friendly as it can with stand periods of drought and is resistant to many pests in our area.

From May through September, the entire tree’s canopy is smothered with a yellow blanket of flowers.  The yellow poinciana tree can grow to heights of 50 feet with a spread of 40 feet so be sure to find the right place for this plant ensuring it has lots of room to grow.  Also, keep in mind that these blooms drop off, so plan ahead of planting to keep your maintenance level low by placing this tree where the expended blooms are not a nuisance.

Canopy in bloom

Poinciana without blooms

It's Raining, It's Pouring

Our summer afternoon showers, rain events, have begun.  What does this mean to you? 

• Your rain barrel is filling or full, good news!  Now is a great time to add another rain barrel to your collection.  If you are not currently using a rain barrel you can sign up for an upcoming workshop at http://manateefyn.eventbrite.com/
• It's time to check your irrigation timer!  You may be able to turn it off.  For more info check out http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/irrigating/watch-weather/
• Consider a Rain Garden.  Find out how to include a rain garden into your landscape at http://buildgreen.ufl.edu/Fact_sheet_Bioretention_Basins_Rain_Gardens.pdf